Equipment for photographic development



Aug. 15, 1939. w. B. HILL ET AL EQUIPMENT FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT Filed Feb. 23, 1939 gwue/wbou W Hz ii B. VZBMQZVZ'TZ WWW Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EQUIPMENT FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT Application February 23, 1939, Serial No. 258,052

2 Claims.

This invention relates to equipment for photographic development, and it is an object of the invention to provide such equipment which can be readily and conveniently used out in the open 5 in lieu of requiring the use of a dark room.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of our improved equipment whereby certain important advantages are 10 attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of our invention will here- 15 inafter be definitely claimed.

In order that our invention may be the better understood, we will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying ing, wherein:

20 Figure l is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view taken through an equipment for photographic developing constructed in accordance with an embodiment of our invention, certain of the parts being in elevation;

25 Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and with certain of the parts in elevation;

Figure 3 is a view in bottom plan of the cap 30 member removed;

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the weighted member as herein embodied unapplied.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, our improved equipment includes an elongated tank l of such dimensions to hold a predetermined amount ofdeveloping fluid. The upper portion of this tank has its walls outwardly and upwardly flared, as at 2, the normal liquid level within the tank being preferably at the junction of said 40 flared walls 2 of the tank I proper.

The upper end of the tank l is normally open and is adapted to be closed by a slip cap 3. This cap 3 at its axial center is provided with an opening 4 thru which is freely directed an elongated 45 member 5, the lower or inserted end portion of this member 5 carrying a brake shoe 6 for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to. Interposed between the shoe 6 and the cap 3 is an expansible member 1, herein disclosed as a 5 coil spring, encircling the member 5. This spring 1 serves to constantly urge the member down wardly or inwardly of the tank I, the extent of such movement being limited by the enlargement or collar 8 carried by the end portion of the mem- 5 her 5 outwardly of the cap 3.

The outer end portion of the member 5 has operatively engaged therewith a finger piece 9, herein disclosed as a ring, to facilitate the outward movement of the member 5 when it is desired to release the brake shoe 6. 5

The cap member 3 has spot welded, as at 9, or otherwise secured to the under or inner face thereof the radially spaced bracket plates l0. These plates [5 are of a length to extend a material distance beyond the free marginal edge of 10 the flange ll of the cap 3. The outer or free end portions of these bracket plates ID are provided with the openings l2 through which the pintle i4 is adapted to be inserted to bridge the space therebetween as is particularly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

When a conventional roll of film is taken from a camera it is positioned between the bracket plates l9 and the pintle l4 inserted through the plates and the film spool 15 whereby said roll of film is supported for rotation. In applying this roll of film the roll contacts with the brake shoe 6 and forces the same inwardly whereby is assured the maintenance of the film roll against rotation until release of the brake shoe.

In applying the film roll to the plates H] the cap 3 can be readily and conveniently held in one hand by the operator. After the application of the roll of film a weighted member [6 is fastened to the end of the film by a suitable clamp I1. The cap 3 is then placed in position upon the upper open end of the tank I and outward pull imposed upon the member 5. This will release the brake shoe 5 from the film roll whereupon the weighted member [6 will promptly drop to the bottom of the tank and carry the film down into the developing solution within the tank.

It is preferred that the depth of the tank I be such that the weighted member l6 will contact with the bottom of the tank before complete unwinding of the film roll so that liability of break age of the film strip is substantially eliminated.

It is believed to be apparent that with our improved equipment roll film can be readily developed without the necessity of a dark room and in a manner which is easy of accomplishment and without mess.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an equipment for photographic development constructed in accordance with our invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that our invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departthis reason we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out our invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. A development equipment for use with a roll of film comprising a tank having an open top, a cap for closing said top, spaced bracket plates extending from the inner face of the cap, a member slidably disposed through the cap, a brake shoe carried by the inner end, of the member, means for constantly urging the brake shoe in a direction toward the outer end of the bracket plates, said bracket plates being spaced apart a distance to receive therebetween a roll of exposed film, a pintle insertible through the outer end portion of the bracket plates and through the applied film roll for rotatably supporting the film roll, the brake shoe when the film roll is applied holding the film roll against rotation, and a weighted member for attachment to the end of the film roll for carrying the film down into the tank when the member is moved in a direction to release the brake shoe from the film roll.

2. A development equipment for use with a roll of film comprising a tank having an open top, a cap for closing said top, spaced bracket plates extending from the inner face of the cap, at member slidably disposed through the cap, a'& brake shoe carried by the inner end of the mem- 2 her, means for constantly urging the brake shoe in a direction toward the outer end of the bracket plates, said bracket plates being spaced apart a distance to receive therebetween a roll of exposed film, a p intle insertible through the outer end portion of the bracket plates and through the applied film roll for rotatably supporting the film roll, the brake shoe When the film roll is applied holding the film roll against rotation, and a weighted member for attachment to an end of the film roll for carrying the film down into the tank when the member is moved in a direction to release the brake shoe from, the film roll, said cap being of a slip type including a surrounding flange, the bracket plates being of a length toextend a material distance beyond the free marginal portion of said flange.

WILLARD B. HILL. WILLIAM B. MELVIN. 

